Nike Hoop Summit Recap

Jamal Murray
photo by Ken Waz / USA Basketball

The Nike Hoop Summit wrapped up Saturday afternoon with a thrilling 103-101 World victory. In a back and forth affair, the World team was able to hold on despite a last second opportunity from Allonzo Trier. Jamal Murray, a Hoop Summit veteran led the way with a game high 30 points and LSU bound Ben Simmons set a Hoop Summit record with nine assists. After a full week of practices there were several players from both the international and U.S. teams that established themselves in the eyes of NBA draft personnel.

Top Tier:

The No. 1 player in the class of 2015 will come down to Ben Simmons and Skal Labissiere. Both players are SEC bound and should challenge for the top draft pick in 2016.

Over the past few weeks, Ben Simmons has hit all parts of the country with the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago, the Dick’s National Championship in New York, and now the Hoop Summit event in Portland. When Simmons arrived he measured out at 6’10” which was taller than previously expected. In the Friday practice leading up to the game, Simmons turned up the volume and provided a glimpse of how he was going to play in the game on Saturday. In the actual game, Simmons played 30 minutes and finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists on 5-10 shooting. Even before entering college, Simmons already has size, strength, and speed to help him excel at the NBA level. The point forward is a strong ball-handler with either hand and always has his head up looking up to find open teammates. His top play came when he pushed the ball down the court out-racing the smaller U.S. defenders finishing with a two-hand dunk. Right now, the main weakness in his game is his outside shooting. Simmons went 0-1 in the game that was played with the international arc, but was comfortable launching shots from this range. He has good rotation on his shot and is already much improved from last year. The Australian native impacts all areas of the game and plays with an unselfish attitude.

While Simmons touched all areas of the scorebook, Skal Labissiere came off the bench and put his own stamp on the game with 21 points, six rebounds, and six blocks on 9-15 shooting in 27 minutes. Throughout the week, Labissiere was the talk of Hoop Summit with NBA GM’s salivating over the chance to draft him in just over a year. After a quiet first half where he scored just four points, Skal dominated the paint in the second half scoring 17 points with a variety of tip-in’s, dunks, and hook shots. The 7 foot Haitian has a smooth game and soft touch that will allow him to become an effective power forward at Kentucky and the next level. He started the game off with a 19 foot jump shot and will eventually excel in the pick and pop world of the NBA. He will need to continue to work on face-up moves out of the post and quick fade-away’s from the right or left block. Despite a tumultuous high school career that was spent changing schools and AAU programs, Skal has poise beyond his years and a game that is pleasing to the eye.

Stock Riser:

He almost didn’t even play in this game, but thanks to Henry Ellenson’s injury, Brandon Ingram was added to the U.S. roster. After erupting at the McDonald’s All-American game, Ingram continued his stellar play and actually led all players on the U.S. with 26 minutes played. He measured out earlier in the week with a 7’3” wing span which so far has offset his relatively thin frame on the defensive end. After a strong week of practice, Ingram started the game showcasing his almost automatic mid-range baseline jump-shot. After six first half points, Ingram got the start in the second half as the U.S. team looked to go smaller to increase the pace of the game. He finished the game with 12 points on 5-6 shooting and contributed three rebounds and a blocked shot. Ingram played the majority of the fourth quarter over Jaylen Brown, but despite being open for several open jumpers the ball never came his way with various ball dominating teammates controlling the action.

International Quick Hitters:

George de Paula (Brazil) – The No. 29 prospect in the DraftExpress rankings had an extremely quiet game despite getting the start at the point guard spot. The 6’6” de Paula is a powerful guard that excels at getting to the basket. Unfortunately in 13 minutes of action, de Paula only took two three pointers. He made his first one early on in the game, but fell extremely short on his other. De Paula also committed three turnovers and didn’t play to his strengths.

Jamal Murray (Canada) – Where will the 6’5” Murray end up next year? Wherever he does, whether it’s in college, Canada, or another destination, Murray will be lighting it up. Last year, Murray scored 10 points in the Hoop Summit game and this year he topped that off with a whopping 30. The best shooter in the game was not fazed by the deeper three point arc and went 3-7 from deep. He scored from all three levels throughout the course of the game and finished 12-23 with five assists. There has been a lot of talk about Murray ending up at Oregon and a backcourt of Murray and Tyler Dorsey would be one of the most explosive in the NCAA.

Cheick Diallo (Mali) – Another high energy performance for Diallo who finished with 12 points and six rebounds after a prior MVP performance at McDonald’s. Diallo chased the ball after misses scoring down low and blocking three shots. College coaches such as Bill Self and Fred Hoiberg are chasing Diallo for next year.

Thon Maker (Canada) – It was a rough Friday for Maker in the scrimmage and a rough game as well. In 14 minutes, Maker scored just two points on free throws and didn’t make a field goal throughout. On the brightside he did add 10 rebounds, five of which were offensive. Right now, Maker’s plans are in flux, but if this game proved anything it’s that he needs time in the weight room and on his offensive skills as he struggled with his shot and on drives to the basket.

Nedim Buza (Bosnia) – The Bosnian sharp-shooter knocked in both of his three point attempts and finished with six points in 13 minutes. Buza was lights out on Friday and if he gets his feet set the outside jumper is probably going in. Buza lacks the necessary foot speed to create his shot and this showed throughout the game.

Frederico Mussini (Italy) – The diminutive Italian guard scored nine points including three clutch free throws at the end. He went 2-5 from the three point line and added in three assists. Mussini is debating about whether to play in college next year, but he could turn into a more than adequate leader for a lucky college team.

Zhou Qi (China) – Qi scored two points and only got one shot attempt, but the intriguing 7’2” center from China showed his assets which include the ability to run the floor and his deficits which include his lack of strength and presence down low on the offensive end. Qi did record two blocks in limited minutes.

Tai Wynyard (New Zealand) – The future Kentucky Wildcat scored his first and only basket on a fundamental post move early on, but wasn’t much of a threat in the other 10 minutes of action. Wynyard could struggle to see the floor when he does land in Lexington given his below the rim style.

Stefan Peno (Serbia) – Peno hit a three in the second half, but usually struggled with the length and athleticism of the opposing players limiting his effectiveness.

U.S. Quick Hitters:

Jaylen Brown – It wasn’t the finest performance for the top rated small forward. Brown struggled with his shot going 2-9 from the floor and was planted on the bench in the deciding minutes. Brown got to the line for six attempts but also committed two turnovers.

Chase Jeter – Jeter got the start and was active around the basket, but finished just 1-5 from the floor. He played 17 minutes and added five rebounds but wasn’t able to utilize his right handed hook shot.

Ivan Rabb – After a strong week of practice, it was a disappointing game for Rabb who played just eight minutes. Rabb went 1-2 from the floor, but he also missed both of his free throws. Earlier in the week, Rabb was hitting jump hooks with both hands but the Oakland native spent the fourth quarter on the bench with Brown.

Malik Newman – Newman went 4-8 from the field and finished with 10 points which was an improvement from his McDonald’s performance, but not the type of game I’m sure he was looking for. Newman scored five points in a row at one stanza which included a three and nice floater. Newman is a streaky scorer and all one has to do is watch his body during a jump shot to determine if it’s going in or not.

Isaiah Briscoe – Nine points and nine assists for Briscoe off the bench, but he also had a costly turnover and missed free throws. Overall, it was an impressive week for the muscular Briscoe and he got to the basket during the course of the game.

Stephen Zimmerman – Zimmerman played up to his potential throughout the game scoring eight points on 4-6 shooting. He put the ball on the floor and finished at the rim and also converted a soft, high arcing deep jump shot. Zimm struggled a bit during the U.S. practices but he shined in his 17 minutes of game action.

Luke Kennard – In a surprising performance, Luke Kennard led the U.S. in scoring with 22 points and shot attempts with 18. Kennard hit 2-5 from three and was all over the court throughout the game scoring at the rim and with pull-up jump shots. He started to hunt for his shot a little bit too much at the end, but was also the most aggressive player on the U.S. team.

Caleb Swanigan – Swanigan received limited minutes and struggled with the length of the World team. The future Michigan State big man went 1-4, but added three rebounds.

Allonzo Trier – Trier provided one of the key highlights with an impressive two hand dunk in the first quarter and was tasked with the last shot for the U.S. team. Trier missed the last shot badly, but that shouldn’t sour the fact that his scoring abilities were on display all week along with his deep range. 

Nike Hoop Summit: US Scrimmage

The Nike Hoop Summit is underway in Portland, OR this week and Thursday marked the third day of practice for the U.S. team. The early afternoon consisted of putting in plays and some light scrimmaging as the team saved up for the 6-8pm session. In this stanza, the U.S. team scrimmaged for four, 10 minute quarters against a variety of players from Portland University and other local schools in addition to future Oklahoma Sooner, Payton Pritchard (class of 2016). It also happened to be the only practice that NBA scouts could attend for the U.S. team and the gym was packed with over 100 scouts and General Managers. The U.S. team used its length and athleticism to combat its strength disadvantage and won the first three quarters comfortable before squeaking out a fourth quarter victory.

The starters included Jalen Brunson, Malik Newman, Brandon Ingram, Ivan Rabb, and Stephen Zimmerman. 

Guards:

Malik Newman – Newman got the start alongside Jalen Brunson and showcased his scoring ability throughout. Without being tasked to start the offense, Newman was free to attack the basket and look for mid-range jump shots within half-court offensive sets. He started the scrimmage off with a three from the left wing and added in a step-back jumper. In the second half Newman put up points in a hurry scoring off a pick and roll and using screens to find open 17 foot jump shots. The uncommitted guard was one of the top performers on the day and used his first quick step to constantly free himself from his defender.

Allonzo Trier – The future Arizona Wildcat was the leading scorer for the U.S. with 20 points including an and one three to win a sluggish fourth quarter for the U.S. Trier hit several three’s from the wing and looked comfortable several feet behind the arc. Trier’s ability to get to the rim against more athletic defenders has been questioned but he displayed a good bounce off the dribble and was at ease finding his shot.

Briscoe drives against Pritchard - photo by Ken Waz

Isaiah Briscoe – The powerful combo guard was manning the point guard position when he was in the game. He used his upper body strength and in and out dribble to constantly get deep into the lane where he was able to use his wing span to convert lay-ups or dish out to open teammates. Briscoe was intense on defense and put the most pressure on Pritchard when he was handling the ball. In addition to his baskets close to the hoop, Briscoe converted a long two from the left corner in the second half.

Luke Kennard – Throughout the course of the game, Kennard was the best defensive rebounding guard. He got off the ground quickly and is a good two-footed jumper which he also displayed when going for two-handed jams on various fastbreak attempts. Kennard knocked in several three’s, but struggled when he had to put the ball on the floor. He has a good first burst, but is hampered after one dribble when going towards the basket.  

Jalen Brunson – It wasn't a great scoring day for Brunson although he found the basket several times in the second half. His outside shot was off, but ran the offense well and minimized turnovers. Brunson played stellar defense on Pritchard picking him off twice and showed good instincts in intercepting a few other passes.

Small Forwards:

Brandon Ingram – The rising senior prospect started for the U.S. and finished with 13 points. He got to the line in both halves by attacking the basket and converted 7-8 from the line. He miss-fired on his three point attempts but knocked in a 12 foot jump shot after a pick and roll with Brunson in the second. Ingram used his length to block several jump shots as well on the defensive end. He didn't play as well as he did at McDonald’s, but he still looked comfortable and confident in his surroundings. Over the next few months he will need to continue to work on his strength and explosiveness as the fouls he drew today could have easily turned into blocks or missed shots against more athletic players.

Jaylen Brown – After participating in drills to start the practice, Brown was held out of the scrimmage with a sore hip.

Big Men:

Ivan Rabb – Over the last year, Rabb has worked on his body to get stronger and healthier. After winning a California state championship, Rabb’s effort has been top tier over the past two weeks. He scored close to the rim in the first half with both hands. He also displayed his passing ability with several touch passes to open teammates and operated well at the top of the key. Rabb was forced into a few contested shots in the second half going against stronger defenders and he noted that continuing to get in the weight room was one of his priorities.

Stephen Zimmerman – Big Zimm had a strong run in the second quarter scoring nine points in a quick burst. He converted a touch pass from Rabb and finished close to the rim including an and-one. While he scored in a hurry in this quarter he was also challenged by the physical play and struggled to score with the ball in his hands. He also didn’t get a chance to showcase his 12-15 foot jump shot during the course of the game.

Chase Jeter – The future Duke tandem of Kennard and Jeter connected several times for baskets including one where Kennard took the ball up the court and after attacking the basket he dished out to Jeter for a swish from the foul line extended. Jeter used his go-to move (right hook) to score in the second quarter.

Caleb Swanigan – Swanigan scored three points in the first half and struggled to convert down low; however he used his upper body to keep the opposing post players out of the paint and also man handled a smaller defender down low in the fourth quarter. He stepped outside the paint twice miss-firing on both of his jumpers which he was knocking down in the McDonald’s practices. Swanigan has the power to bang with college players but will need to work on his explosiveness off of two feet.

The U.S. won the first quarter 27-14, the second quarter 34-21, and the third quarter 31-15. With both teams looking tired the fourth quarter it was an issue getting the ball in the hoop on both sides. Down 15-12, Allonzo Trier hit a three from the top of the key and got fouled with two seconds left providing the U.S. with a 16-15 win. While not on the U.S. team, Payton Pritchard relished the opportunity to go against the older U.S. players. When he walked in the gym, the scouts were buzzing about the performance he put on a year ago in the Hoop Summit scrimmage despite being just a sophomore. While he struggled from the floor, he displayed good ball-handlings skills and was constantly getting into the paint showing good body control and an ability to avoid getting his shot blocked by the U.S. big men.

McDonald's All-American Practice Report

It did not take long for the action to heat up inside the Quest Multiplex in Chicago, IL this morning. The McDonald’s All-American festivities began on Sunday, but the practice on Monday served as the first gathering for all team members. With media and NBA personnel on hand, both the East and West teams were going at it from the get go. The two hour practice provided an in-depth look at the top seniors in the country and while all eyes were initially on Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown they quickly shifted to the surprise performer of the day.

West Team:

The West team is coached by Chicago’s own, Robert Smith from perennial power Simeon. He had the West team in 3 on 2 and 2 on 1 drills right off the bat which quickly led to intense one on one battles. The strength of the West team lies in there abundance of talented big men, but the perimeter players certainly proved their worth as well.

Team A:                                                                       Team B:

Malik Newman (Undecided)                                       Jalen Brunson (Villanova)

Perry Dozier (South Carolina)                                    Allonzo Trier (Arizona)

Brandon Ingram (Undecided)                                     Malachi Richardson (Syracuse)

Ivan Rabb (Undecided)                                              Deyonta Davis (Michigan State)

Caleb Swanigan (Undecided)                                    Stephen Zimmerman (Undecided)

Chase Jeter (Duke)                                                    Carlton Bragg (Kansas)

Standout Performer:

Brandon Ingram, 6’8”, SF, Kinston (NC)

The long and lanky Kinston, NC native had his coming out party back in early July in Chicago at the Adidas Unrivaled camp and he certainly did not miss a beat during the Monday practice session. Faced off with sweet shooting Malachi Richardson, Ingram was the one that had his jumper working. Extremely comfortable from 12-15 feet, Ingram’s feathery shot found the net numerous times from mid-range coming off the catch, the dribble, and pick and rolls. Even in drills it was hard for Ingram to miss from this area and given his height and length he got the shot off almost anytime he wanted. His range also extended out to the three point line as he hit several three’s during the half-court and full-court scrimmages. On the defensive side of the ball, Ingram struggled at times staying in front of his opponent whether it was in one-one-one drills or scrimmages, but his length helped negate any ground he gave up. With a long wing-span, Ingram was able to disrupt shots and also created numerous steals by getting his hands in the passing lane. The early eyes were on Jaylen Brown and Ben Simmons, but it was Brandon Ingram that continued his stellar play at the Quest Multiplex.

Top Performers:

Malik Newman, 6’4”, G, Callaway (MS)

While still not a pure point guard, Newman ran the point guard position for his team and faced off against Villanova bound Jalen Brunson. Newman used his speed and athleticism to hit difficult shots in the paint and used the pick and roll to get space for his floater or jump shot. He was also able to attack the basket and was aggressive on the boards as well. He never seemed to catch fire, but anytime he missed from the field it was almost certain that Newman would find a way to knock down his next shot.

Ivan Rabb, 6’10”, PF, Bishop O’ Dowd (CA)

Last year it was Stanley Johnson that led his Mater Dei team to a California state championship and then immediate flew to Chicago for the McDonald’s All-American practices. This year it’s big man Ivan Rabb. On Saturday night, Rabb knocked in the game winning free throw to win a state title and just two days later he was one of the most energetic players on the court. He ripped down rebounds, hit a few soft shots in the paint with both hands, and threw down an emphatic two hand dunk on fellow teammate Stephen Zimmerman. Right now Rabb is healthy and it showed in his play and early effort level.

Top Match-Up:

Caleb Swanigan vs. Stephen Zimmerman

There was a lot to like when it came to the various big men match-ups on the West side, but watching the contrasting styles of Swanigan and Zimmerman was the most entertaining. At 6’8”, Swanigan is a bull in a china shop while the almost 7 foot Zimmerman prefers to use his soft touch outside. Throughout the practice, Swanigan had trouble scoring on his first attempt in the post and was routinely getting his shot blocked. Despite a failed first attempt, he almost always managed to coral the loose ball and go up for a second or third attempt until he finished the play. Zimmerman had his share of blocks, but Swanigan would eventually manage to use his strength to get the basket. On the other side, Zimmerman was playing loose and knocking down outside jump shots. He scored in the post at times, but the four-time state champ was enjoying the open looks he was getting at the top of the key. At the end, this match-up was basically deemed a draw, with Swanigan getting the better of Zimmerman on the inside and vice versa on the outside.

Other Notes:

·         Point guard Jalen Brunson is the lone player from Illinois in the all-star game this year and also the only true point guard on the West side. Throughout the practice, Brunson was a smooth floor general and used quick in-and-out moves to get to the basket. He miss-fired on several lay-ups in the paint early on, but settled down knocking in a few outside shots.

·         Perry Dozier, the 6’6” wing from South Carolina was the sneaky good player of the day. Surrounded by more heralded players, Dozier picked his spots and showed off his smooth and refined game. He utilized the pick and roll well and hit several 15 foot jumpers along with soft floaters in the paint. Dozier did not look as comfortable from the three point line, but his length and ball-handling skills were certainly impressive.

·         Future Michigan State Spartan, Deyonta Davis did not get a lot of half-court action, but the 6’9” power forward did manage to hit two deep jumpers from the top of the key. A bouncy prospect, it looked like Davis had also added some mass to his upper body while going through his senior year.

East Team:

Team A:                                                                               Team B:

Isaiah Briscoe (Kentucky)                                             Jawun Evans (Oklahoma State)

Antonio Blakeney (LSU)                                               Luke Kennard (Duke)

Jaylen Brown (Undecided)                                            Dwayne Bacon (Florida State)

Ben Simmons (LSU)                                                     Dedric Lawson (Memphis)

Diamond Stone (Maryland)                                          Cheick Diallo (Undecided)

                                                                                      Thomas Bryant (Undecided)

The East team has the superstar combo of Jaylen Brown and Ben Simmons and early on both were competing in one on one half-court and full-court drills. The smooth nature of Simmons’ game was on display as was the power and brute force from Jaylen Brown. Early on, it was Brown that was looking good knocking in outside shots and corralling rebounds, but then he started to get sloppy with the ball and turned it over several times. He did finish with some rim rattling dunks, but also came up short on several of his contested jump shots. Simmons showed off his passing skills, but didn’t look comfortable shooting from the outside and did not exert his dominance on the game.

Top Players:

Thomas Bryant, 6’9”, C, Huntington Prep (WV)

It was a fairly productive morning for the 6’9” Bryant who always has his motor running on high. Looking a little smoother than normal, Bryant was knocking in deep jump shots during the skills portion of the practice which continued into the scrimmages (even though this led to one or two forced shots). Bryant was active on the boards and defended Diamond Stone well towards the end.

Antonio Blakeney, 6’4”, SG, Oak Ridge (FL)

As one of the top scorers on the East team, Blakeney had his outside shot finding the bottom of the net and was also soaring down the lane for two handed dunks on the break. Blakeney minimized the amount of tough shots he normally takes and also put pressure on Luke Kennard when guarding him in the half-court set.

Other Notes:

·         Diamond Stone started the practice off strong hitting a short hook with his left hand and following that up with a longer hook with his right. Stone was confident when going at Bryant and Cheick Diallo in the drills and held his own on the defensive end. About half way through, Stone was still getting open looks but he his jump shots started careening towards the side of the rim and he failed to finish down low.

·         Despite not shining, Brown easily got the better of Dwayne Bacon who was quiet up until the last few minutes. Brown used his first step to get his should ahead of Bacon and then was able to finish with contact in the lane. He also sought out defensive rebounds calling them his out loud before actually wrapping them up.

·         Isaiah Briscoe and Jawun Evans were matched up throughout the practice. Evans used his speed to push the pace and was feisty on defense. On occasion, Evans would slither into the paint and was able to finish with a floater or soft lay-up. Then there was Briscoe who used his grown man strength to attack the basket and finish with contact. He struggled shooting from the outside, but was routinely at the rim converting shots or dishing to open teammates.

Overall:

Both the East and West practices were intense with a lot of action. The talented players went at each other time and time again and while there were several fine performances, it was the lights out shooting of Brandon Ingram that had everyone talking once the final buzzer sounded.

Adidas Unrivaled - Wrap Up

With the first July live period in the books, it’s time to take a look back at the first Adidas Unrivaled camp that took place in Chicago, IL. Adidas invited approximately 120 players, many of whom play on the Adidas AAU circuit to compete in a camp style atmosphere similar to Nike’s LeBron James Skills Academy. In its camp kickoff at the Quest Multiplex gym in the city’s west side (which also plays host to the McDonald’s All-American practices) the Adidas team definitely brought together a talented group that ended with two all-star games on Sunday. College coaches from all of the major conferences packed the sidelines to watch the drills and games each day.

Bad News:

On the first day of camp, 6’6” small forward Ray Smith fell to the floor in agony. It later turned out that the five-star wing tore his ACL ending any future AAU or high school play. Before he hurt his knee, Smith was riding high with a strong showing during the spring and June camp play establishing himself as one of the best slashers in the country. On Day 1 of the Adidas Unrivaled camp, Smith stood out with his play during the first drill session and also put together an impressive first game going 7-9 from the field. 

Almost immediately after the camp ended, Smith committed to the Arizona Wildcats. While the selection did not come as a surprise for the Vegas native, the timing might have caught some off guard. Given the lengthy recovery for a torn ACL, Smith will most likely begin to start testing his knee out next spring before heading to Tucson. Before his injury, Smith was strongest attacking the basket and finishing at the rim. With a smoothness to his game, Smith always seemed under control and his jump shot was getting more consistent at every showing. It might be hard for Smith to be 100% come the start of his freshman year due to the injury, but Arizona landed a top notch player for the future.

MVP:

 

Brandon Ingram, 6’8”, SF, Kingston (NC), 2015

Ingram - Growing Up In Chicago

Did the light finally come on for Brandon Ingram? Judging from his play in Chicago, the answer is a resounding yes. Just several weeks ago, Ingram looked lethargic and lacked aggressiveness during the NBPA Top 100 camp. That changed quickly on Thursday when he took his defender off the dribble for a left hand lay-up to kick things off. Soon the long armed Ingram was hitting three’s, attacking off the pick and roll, and posting up smaller defenders. He had a great Thursday before coming back to earth on Friday, but then scored 26 points on 10-16 shooting against Jaylen Brown and then ended the camp with 22 points on 10-13 shooting in the all-star game. During the week Ingram averaged 14.3 points while shooting 9-18 from the three point line. Once primarily a top recruit for the schools in North Carolina, Ingram now has the attention of Louisville, Kansas, and Kentucky.

Top Nine: 

Chase Jeter, 6’10”, PF, Bishop Gorman (NV), 2015

Chase Jeter has slowly risen up the rankings over the past year and he is not done yet. The five-star power forward got off to a rough start on Thursday, but started to dominate in front of Coach K and the Duke coaching staff on Friday and Saturday. Jeter put together several double-doubles and multiple 20 point games while outplaying Carlton Bragg in their head to head match-up. With his increased strength, Jeter was able to bang down low while also using his footwork in the post for short shots over his right shoulder. Jeter also ran the floor and blocked shots on the defensive end. He averaged 16 points and eight rebounds per game. Given the amount of attention paid to him from the Duke staff, it’s hard to see him heading anywhere other than Durham.

Jaylen Adams, 6’2”, PG, Cushing Academy (MA) 2015

Kevin Ollie should enjoy coaching the uber explosive Jaylen Adams in Storrs. The talented point guard did not put up eye popping scoring numbers, but he did have several games with nine assists. Adams is a sight to see in the open court and can finish with the best of them. He has a good handle and first step which allows him to get in the lane almost at will. Defensively, Adams has great lateral movement and is a shot blocking threat on the break as he perfectly timed several lay-up attempts by opponents throughout the week.

Tony Bradley Jr., 6’9.5”, PF, Barstow (FL), 2016

Used to playing against Nike kids on the EYBL AAU circuit, Bradley Jr. adapted quickly to the new competition. In his first game, Bradley Jr. scored 20 points on 10-15 shooting and eventually earned a starting spot in the underclassmen all-star game. For the camp, the Florida product averaged 14 points per game on 60% shooting. He runs the floor with a purpose which usually led to several lay-ups or dunks during the course of a game and he also possesses a soft touch on his jump shot or his hook shot. Bradley Jr. will need to work on his explosiveness under the basket, but for now his play earned him several looks from schools outside of Florida and the Southeast. He averaged 15.3 points while shooting over 65%.

Maverick Rowan, 6’7”, SF, Lincoln Park (PA), 2016

One of the words often overheard to describe Rowan’s game this past week was smooth. The lanky small forward had a sweet looking jump shot that routinely found the bottom of the net. The future Pitt Panther also showed an ability to finish at the rim on drives and hit the one dribble pull-up. Rowan hit several three’s in the all-star game to finish with 12 points. While most players were dead after the four day event, Rowan immediately went over to the side court to work on his game until the camp came to a close.

Deng Adel, 6’6”, SF, Rock Prep (FL), 2015

Always under the watchful eye of Rick Pitino or a Louisville assistant it came as no surprise that small forward Deng Adel committed quickly after camp. Adel put together an extremely efficient camp performance and played with a high motor throughout with the ability to rattle off six to eight points in a row before the opponent knew what hit it. A blur on the break, Adel also displayed a soft touch on his jump shot inside the arc. He was extremely comfortable from about 15-17 feet out on the right baseline and also routinely beat his man off the dribble. 

Jaylen Brown, 6’7”, SF, Wheeler (GA), 2015

Brown is the top small forward in the country and while he struggled on Thursday and early on Friday, he used his upper body strength and speed to turn things around. He went for 26 on Friday night in one of the most dominant performances of the week. A high level leaper, Brown averaged 16 ppg during camp and was always a tough cover on the offensive end. 

Kobi Simmons, 6’5”, PG, (GA), 2016

The tall, lanky junior point guard was impossible to keep out of the lane and out of the scoring book. With a strong handle, Simmons constantly beat his defender off the dribble and scored at the rim whether in the half court of fast break setting. He led the camp in scoring at 16.5 points per game but also kept his teammates involved leaving them with pinpoint passes at the basket. Simmons received an offer from Kansas subsequent to camp and will be one of the most sought after point guards going forward. Given his height, he will also be on the NBA radar for the next few years.

TJ Leaf, 6’8”, PF, Foothills Christian (CA), 2016

TJ Leaf lived up to his top 10 ranking this week going 26-39 from the floor over a three day span. The California junior always seemed to be in the right place at the right time and displayed his versatility on the perimeter and in the post. He knocked down three’s when he had the chance and finished at the rim over defenders using his long arms or a crafty reverse lay-up. Leaf is a solid athlete but has room for improvement in his lateral quickness and leaping ability to make the next step. Even so, there were plenty of Pac 12 schools in hot pursuit of Leaf this past week and Louisville offered a scholarship after their viewings.

Kenneth Nwuba, 7’0”, (MS), 2018

One of only two rising freshmen at the camp, Nwuba impressed with his coordination and defensive ability. Nwuba is a lanky athlete that has a quick first jump. His offensive skill in the post is quite raw at this point, but he is seriously advanced on the defensive end which led to the youngster earning a spot in the underclassmen all-star game.

Other Notes:

Junior point guard Peyton Pritchard was impressive in the underclassmen all-star game on Sunday. He shifted speeds constantly keeping his defender off balance and had his jump shot working from all areas of the court. After a strong start, Pritchard’s shot started to slide on Saturday. The 6’0” Oregon point guard spent about an hour on Saturday working on his shot and the hard work paid off with 15 points in the all-star game and 3-4 from the three point line. Pritchard is also a hot commodity in the recruiting world with coaches from the PAC 12, Big 10, and Big 12 after him. Recently Pritchard made unofficial visits to Wisconsin and Indiana.

Adidas Unrivaled: Thursday Session 1 Recap

The Adidas Unrivaled camp kicked off this morning beginning with two hours of drills for the top prospects on the Adidas AAU circuit. A few head coaches showed up early including Billy Donovan along with a handful of assistants from high major schools but the big turnout came for the first set of games in the afternoon. John Calipari, Tom Crean, Tad Boyle and many others were present for the five games that made up the first session of games in Chicago. 

Players That Impressed:

Brandon Ingram, 6’8”, Forward, Kinston (NC), 2015

Brandon Ingram

Aggressive is not a word usually used to describe Brandon Ingram. A 6’8” string bean that always looks like the youngest player on the court came out firing. First he found himself on the left wing in an isolation situation. After a hesitation dribble, Ingram drove to the basket for a contested left hand lay-up and you could see his confidence rise. Soon after Ingram curled to the left elbow for a jump shot and then also hit a three from the left side of the court. Ingram’s team jumped out to a huge lead and Ingram finished the first half with 14 points on 6-6 shooting. He ended the game with 16 points on 7-8 shooting and his one basket in the second half displayed his more aggressive mindset. Upon seeing a smaller defender on him, Ingram posted up in the middle of the lane and backed his man down finishing with a two hand dunk. The North Carolina native also added six rebounds. Can he continue his aggressive play going forward?

Tony Bradley Jr., 6’9”, Forward, Bartow (FL), 2016

While Ingram started the game with a bang, Tony Bradley Jr. was the team’s leading scorer finishing with 20 points. The athletic forward was extremely aggressive around the rim finishing with his monstrous wing span. He caught almost everything thrown to him and finished 10-15 from the floor. 

Deng Adel, 6’7”, Forward, Rock Prep (FL), 2015

One of the top wings in the country put on an efficient performance during the first session. Adel got started on the break finishing with two consecutive fast break dunks. He also added in a few deep jump shots from just inside the arc and finished with 12 points and five rebounds on 6-9 shooting in a five point win.

TJ Leaf, 6’9”, Forward, Foothills Christian (CA), 2016

Leaf put together a 14 point, six rebound effort on 7-12 shooting. He showed off his versatility on several drives from the three point line including an acrobatic reverse finish. Leaf also attacked the glass and added three rebounds. He missed both of his three’s, but even the threat of his outside shot kept defenders off balance. 

Braxton Blackwell, 6’7”, SF, Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN), 2016

Blackwell scored 16 points on 8-10 shooting and displayed a variety of aspects of his offensive arsenal. All of his points came from around the basket; however they came in different ways. He posted up smaller defenders, drove by slower defenders, and used strong body control to avoid the taller opponents. He guarded the opposing power forwards and also helped his own team initiate offense by playing point forward on numerous possessions. Blackwell played with a bounce to his step and finished with one of the better performances of the afternoon.

Other Notes:

The top prospects at the Adidas camp are small forward Jaylen Brown and power forwards Carlton Bragg and Chase Jeter. All three struggled in the first set of games going a combined 9-30 from the floor. Brown struggled with his jump shot and ball control while going 2-10 and Bragg went just 2-6 in his game. Jeter finished 5-14 and while he had a brief stretch with several impressive baskets in the post he also forced the action at times. Jeter showed good foot work, but also displayed a propensity to always go to his right.

2017 point guard Jaylen Hands went just 2-8 from the field, but the upcoming sophomore appeared to be one of the quicker guards in camp. The 6’1” guard from California displayed an initial quick burst and solid ball handling skills throughout.

Junior shooting guard Curtis Jones scored 16 points on 6-12 shooting including 3-6 from deep. A few weeks ago Jones was showing off his athletic prowess in Charlottesville and now he is looking to show off his all-around game. 

6’7” guard / forward Maverick Rowan got off to a hot start hitting three three’s in early action. He cooled off from deep, but still finished 5-11 overall. His counterpart was 6’7” Brendon Bailey out of Utah how made two three’s and finished with eight points which came in a matter of minutes in the second half. 

7’1” center Khadim Gueye from Florida was only credited with two blocks, but the rangy big man appeared much more devastating in the paint than the stats would lead to believe. He didn’t make a field goal, but Gueye is a shot blocker to watch going forward.